The Frugal Gourmet Celebrates Christmas

This was literally my fourth purchase of this book. I am tired of paying full price for a 30+ year old book. This is so worth it. See first sentence. This is so much more than a cookbook. It is a celebration of the season, with photos of items to increase the joy of looking at it. I love to read cookbooks and this is at the top of my list. The photo layouts are outstanding. I love reading this book at least three times between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It always cheers me up. The corned pork recipe results are to die for. The recipe can be halved. This has been my approaching-33-years-old childʼs birthday dinner request for at least 25 years. The mustard that goes with it is heavenly. We used to make the pork for Christmas Eve, then the prime rib recipe on Christmas until our family chicks flew the nest and it's just me. My daughterʼs birthday is close enough to Christmas for it to be a festive meal. I enjoy making it. Please, if you try it, gulp and use the salt petre. It's necessary for the flavor. It ge

I know...I know, thinking of Christmas!??? at this time of year! well, maybe Christmas in July! lol! This book is filled with great recipes, history and tradition for any holiday! Jeff Smith spoke about interesting traditions and origins on his entertaining PBS show. Before 'The Food Network' we had the witty and talented 'Frugal Gourmet'. This book deals with some grand feasts and some very good classic family dishes. From fancy to "just great traditional family food"! This book has a lot to offer. This one has lots of illustrations and family stories. Something the world seems to be missing these days is time spent in the kitchen with the family preparing meals for "get together". Make time for this book, your family and friends! Even if your not a "religious" person these are words to live by. This is yet another excellent cook book by Jeff Smith! It's full of great recipes and stories by a very talented cook and writer. This one focuses on old world cooking. I have used many of these recipes and found them to be very good. Being a home grown cook myself and having had many of my grandmother's classic recipes handed down to me, I found this book to be very helpful in expanding my culinary taste buds. Jeff Smith entertained us for years on his PBS program 'The Frugal Gourmet'. Not only did he teach us many savory dishes, he also educated us. Not satisfied with just cooking delicious meals for his viewers, he would give detailed history lessons about the origins of the dish and made it all a lot of fun! This may be Mr. Smiths best cook book and it is a worthy edition to everyone's cook book library. I own and have read many, if not all of his cook books, not only for the man's knowledge of cooking, but his incredible wit! This guy was funny and I would have loved to have hung out and throw a few beers down with him. Unfortunately, this man had some very seriously bad press released about his personal life and well..... I am not one to spread rumors.....he seemed like a great guy and sadly he died before he was able to clear his name. R.I.P. Frugs!

This is the first recipe book I ever sat down and read from cover to cover. It has become one of my Christmas traditions, and one I share with friends and family by giving it as a gift.Jeff Smith shares a lot of his personal feelings about the significance of Christmas, and his writing is obviously based on historical research. In a charming progression, he takes us through the events of the first Christmas and designates a feast including a special dish for each of the characters involved, from the Christ child Himself, to the angels, to even the beasts.

This book takes you through the history and traditions of Christmas, with full meals illustrated. My favorites - The crown roast of pork, with sausage stuffing. Favorite side dishes include brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar and baked onions. A great read, and a must-have for the holidays.